Just saying…

• I’m not sure there was likely to be any other result in Sunday’s League Cup final. Sure, Bradford had pulled off a few shocks along the way – but Swansea were a Premier League side used to playing at Wembley, trying to secure their first major trophy in their centenary season. No one takes their eyes off the prize that much. What Bradford need to make happen now is return to a proper level. As for Swansea, watching them in Europe next season will be very interesting.

• It can’t be long before Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino puts Jos Hooiveld out of his misery and the defender’s keen eye for goal to better use. I know a few strikers who would love for the ball to ricochet off them into the net. The big Dutchman’s just getting greedy.

• Yes, it’s Manchester United at Old Trafford – but with that vital Champions League second leg at home to Real Madrid three days later and a 12-point gap at the top of the Premier League, I’m not sure City could ask for a better time to visit.

One case circled Twitter this week – a report Spurs “flop” Gareth Bale would be given a £3m move to Birmingham so he could end his “torrid time since arriving at White Hart Lane”.

That story was written in October 2009. It harks back to similar stories based on the old statistic that Tottenham couldn’t win with Bale on the pitch.

Now, I’m not so sure they could pick up a point without him.

Of course the Canaries are not immune from their own brushes with the fickle side of life – be it writing someone off too soon, or investing far more faith in someone else than they’re worth.

Even if only looking in the more recent past, David Nielsen’s goal-laden loan spell little more than a decade ago was the stuff of dreams – so much so, the reality of his permanent move never quite matched those heights.

Another that sticks particularly in my mind was the brief impact of Ulf Ottosson. The on-loan Swede scored a cracking header at Sheffield United live on Sky in a win that lifted plenty of spirits.

Sadly, he went on to trim his flowing blonde locks and never looked the same again – both literally and metaphorically.

I’m sure we also remember when a particular City boss introduced Wes Hoolahan to Norwich fans as a “new hero” – which raised more eyebrows than cheers long before the Irishman became the firmest of City favourites.

In truth, hindsight doesn’t do anyone in football much in terms of favour. The game is built on the here and now; today’s coverage only exacerbates the feeling.

Which of course, all leads on to Kei Kamara. The man whose four-minute impact against Fulham was promising, and his significantly longer cameo facing Everton memorable – maybe even season-defining. Time will tell.

Whether Sierra Leone’s most talked-about striker becomes a long-term hit will play out how it is destined, no matter what is said and written following Saturday.